Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-26


he even prosecute the thieves. He knew
the frallty OF human nature and cid no
expect too much of it.
But the episode did not cause him [,
reIlnquisn his night prowling, and hi
snort, sturdy figure, with the broad, rudd7
face, collarless neck and sharp eyes, wa!
familiar to hundreds of people in New
York. The police knew him well, and i
was an open secret to them that his bust
ness was used as cover for less legiti-
mate proceedings. But he was too shreWe
and tar-sighted ever to stray within the
| clutches of the law; no one could prove
tnat he came by his possessions dishon.
estly, and all the stones that he bought
were immediately taken from their set.
tlngS and often recut, so that identified
! ton was impossible. His sagscity
and strong Judgment made him
| the confidential associate of the
{ most noted thieves in America, especially
OF that higher class that make bank rob-
! blng specially. When such men get
into trouble Grady was never backward
IN defrayin@ the cost Of their defense, and
when they needed money for a lob, and ne
upon being consulted decided that il
promised well, there WAS never any diff
Guilty IN getting him to advance the funds
Tor the preliminary operations. No
doubt Mr.. Grady studied his own advan-
tage in ali this, and calculated on making
cent per cent. in the end; but he often
had TO wait long, the business was a risky
one, and occasionally he met with g.
eYere reverse.
The most notable instance of this kind
was in connection with the attemnt to
plumber bank on the west side of the
city. Grady looked carefully into the
matter and was fully persuaded of its
feasibility. The building adjoining the
bank was to let, and he fitted it up as q
saloon.
1t was first-class establishment, and
IN order to lull any possible suspicious IL
was operated for nearly year before any
effort was made to get into the bank.
The machinery used for this purpose was
no mere ordinary kit of burglars tools,
but steam engine and drill of ten-horse
power The necessity for this lay in the
TACT that the back of the vault was pro-
tected by granite wall three feet thick.
through which 1t was Indispensable to
drive hole large enough to admit q
mans Dody.
Saturday, the 9th of June, 1874, was a |
holiday, and as this would give the bur-
glars from Friday night till Monday morn |
ing for their work the enterprise was set |
for that date. The engine was placed in |
the basement OF the Eighth avenue oyster |
mouse, and was set in motion soon after |
closing hours. All was going well, and |
there was every prospect that the lob /
would be finished in ample season, when |
g most annoying cOntretemps occurred. |
a policemen with an acute sense of hear
ing and an inquiring MUD happened to
stroll past the bank, and was attracted
by singular numming or buZZing noise
from the bowels of the earth.
de paused, listened, specialized, and
finally located the mystery as somewhere
IN the depths of the fashionable saloon
With lack Of delicaCY which cannot be
too strongly reprObated this man knocked
at the door of the saloon and de-
msnde0 admittance; and failing to obtain
1t, he had the bad taste to raise such g
commOtton that the operators of the en-
CINE felt IL due TO their seIf-respecf to
leave the building oy way OF a door in
the rear. All got away but two, who
were OYeftaken and persuaded 10 &C
company the officers to the station. II is
said the bank never made any offer TO re
mbuTse Mr.. Grady for the outlay which
led thus been rendered abortive, and
Vhlch Is believed to have amounted 10
between 100000 and $4,000. Bank
directors, like other corporations, have
10 souls
In spite of losses and Yicissitudes, how
yer, John d. Grady grew to be wealthy
nan and g power in mis- own circle. The
most eminent operators in the profession
we're MS henchmen and supporters they,
made him the confdant of thasrniOst
acred medirations of their heaEts, de.
erred TO him, borrowed of him and sWore
y him. He knew all other men'B'eoun-
els, but no other man knew his; his was
he agency whereby all undertakings were
eHdered possible, but it was as invisible
s II was effective. 1t is estiu ted that he
hight, had he been so minded, have filed =
4 entire wing OF the public establish .
lent at Sing Sing with involuntary occu-
ants. 1t Is interesting to note, by
ne way, that by q quaint coin
ldence Big jim (WnO W2s 10 other
nan the Jim Brady VINO played the sub
rdinate part in the little drama recently
lluded TOY again came into collision with
is old opponent, and came near beng
etrayed into serious breach of good
tanners. The two gentlemen disagreed
\ business question. Mr.. Brady had
AIKEN fsncy to the contents OF an out-of-
1wH banking concern, and Mr.. Grady
ad advanced him 81, 900 towards carry
Il out his designs. But unexpected (
occurred, and $4,000 more g
ere needed 20 put the scheme on psy- 8
lg basis. Mr.. Grady, however, mad bel
IN to lose faith in the enterprise; nc fat a
: refused to put up another cent. Mr.
rady's chagrin ct this DISAPPOINTMENT was a
D keen that, in the effervescence of the o
ioment, he drew revolver from his
ocket and, pointing it at his inter
,cutor's forehead, proposed to him the
lternatiVe of either producing the cash
r dispensing with his brains, As Mr..